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Back to Basics: The Key Components of Your Insurance Policy

Takeaway:The details of an insurance policy can be complicated, but a firm understanding of the main components ensures you more fully understand your coverage.

Source: Juan Moyano/Dreamstime.com

When reading an insurance policy for the first time, the sheer volume of information can be daunting for the average person. The answers to even the simplest questions often seem to be buried under a mountain of complicated jargon. While it takes time to fully grasp the ins and outs of a policy, a firm understanding of its basic components is a great place to start.

Outlined below are the most common sections of most insurance policies and a brief description of the types of information you can find there. Keep in mind individual policies can vary widely, so your policy may combine certain sections or include additional items not listed here. In most cases, however, an understanding of these key components enables you to simply skip to the section containing the information you need, saving you time and frustration.

Declarations Page

Generally the first page or two of your policy, the declarations page is basically a snapshot of your coverage. You can find the answers to most of your basic coverage questions here. The information includes the name of the insured, the type of coverage provided, basic coverage limits and applicable sublimits, deductible amounts and policy period.

If your policy covers property, such as your home or vehicle, then it will also be listed on the declarations page alongside the property value and any necessary identifying information, such as a vehicle’s VIN number. As for health insurance policies, this section might be called a summary of benefits and will include information about your premiums, maximum benefit limits, deductibles, copay and coinsurance.

Schedules

Occasionally, you may need a policy that covers multiple items. If you cover several vehicles or multiple pieces of property under the same policy, the declarations page may not offer sufficient space to list them all. In this case, your insurance provider will attach a schedule listing all your covered property and applicable limits for each item.

You typically find schedules just after the declarations page. If you need to verify coverage of a certain item and don’t see it listed in the declarations, look through your policy in case the property schedule has been inserted elsewhere.

Insuring Agreement

The insuring agreement is also found near the front of your policy. It simply outlines the basics of the insurance contract and the responsibilities of both you and your insurance company. The primary responsibility of the insurance company is to pay claims on your behalf for losses suffered due to covered perils and defend you in the case of lawsuit. Your chief responsibility is to pay the agreed premium and truthfully report losses in a timely manner.

In a property policy, the insuring agreement also indicates the type of policy you have: all-risk or named perils. Named perils policies only provide coverage for causes of loss specifically listed in the policy document. Conversely, all-risks policies provide coverage for all causes of loss, except those specifically excluded in the policy.

Policy Coverage

While the declarations page provides a snapshot of your limits and covered property, the policy coverage section provides a much more detailed explanation of how and when your coverage applies. It outlines the type of coverage provided and how deductibles, limits and sublimits apply to covered losses. If you have a question about your policy that looking at the declarations page cannot answer, the policy coverage section should be your next stop.

In a named perils policy, each covered peril is outlined specifically. In an all-risks policy, the policy coverage section includes boilerplate wording outlining applicable coverage for "any covered loss." Perils not covered by an all-risks policy are specified in the following section.

In health insurance policies, this section lists your covered services and the applicable in- and out-of-network costs. It may also include specific limitations or requirements for coverage to apply, such as obtaining a referral from an approved provider before seeking specialist care.

Exclusions

Most policies include exclusions, though they differ by coverage type, state of issuance and insurance company. For homeowner’s policies, the most common exclusions are war, earthquake, acts of terrorism, water damage and neglect. Auto policies often contain exclusions limiting coverage for vehicles not listed on the policy, damage intended by the insured, or vehicles used for commercial purposes, such as delivery services. In many cases, you may elect to pay an additional premium to have certain exclusions removed.

Health insurance policies may include exclusions or limitations regarding pre-existing conditions or claims that arise due unapproved medical costs. Common exclusions include services provided in relation to the commission of a felony and experimental treatments.

If you have questions about a specific cause of loss, be sure to check your policy’s exclusions to make sure your coverage isn’t limited.

Conditions

In addition the insuring agreement, most policies also contain a section that outlines specific conditions that the insured must meet for claims to be paid. Common ones include timely reporting of claims, the submission of official proof of loss forms, and cooperation with the company’s investigation of your claim. For example, property and auto policies generally also require that the insured take any necessary and practical steps to ensure no additional damage is done to covered property after a loss.

Endorsements

Any number of life events may cause your insurance needs to change over time. If you need to alter your existing coverage prior to policy expiration, your insurance company will issue an endorsement amending your policy. If you make many changes in a single year, the policy you have at the end of your policy term may only bear a passing resemblance to the one you originally purchased.

Common endorsements include the addition or deletion of vehicles or property from a policy, the removal of certain exclusions, and the increase or decrease of policy limits. Most affect your premium, either increasing it for an increase in coverage or reducing it because of a coverage reduction. Any premium change will be prorated based on the remaining days in the policy period.

If you spot an error in your policy regarding covered property, services or causes of loss, read through this section to make sure an endorsement has amended the error.

Glossary

As you review your policy documentation, you may notice several terms printed in bold. Insurance companies often define these terms in the glossary. It is a great resource if you get lost in a particularly dense forest of insurance jargon.

Conclusion

Any insurance policy can be overwhelming if you take it as one giant tangle of technical legalese. However, your policy is much more manageable if you look at its various parts and address only those sections applicable to your current question. If you can understand the basics of policy composition and the information each section provides, you are well on your way to a fuller, more usable comprehension of your insurance coverage.

Claire has been writing about retirement planning, tax policy, investing, insurance and corporate finance for over a year. After leaving her career in the insurance industry working for high-profile clients, Claire decided to pursue a career in writing. Her background in insurance and keen attention to detail has made her a perfect fit for Insuranceopedia.

Claire specializes in making complex, overwhelming insurance concepts accessible to the average person. Through her writing, she aims to help those who may be intimidated by industry jargon or legalese to gain confidence in their ability to manage their own insurance needs.